First time kegging - Not sure what is happening

[bleme]

Move the gas over first. You shouldn't even need to turn it off or release any as it is already at equilibrium.

 

[balrog]

If you pour, you will remove volume from keg, which will allow CO2 to come in replacing that space, which if coming up through the diffusion stone will agitate the beer. Therefore switch first then pour

 

[whovous]

Thanks everyone. Is it definite that I don't need to release the pressure? I am brand new to kegging and would prefer not to discover a new way to spray beer all over the place.

 

[balrog]

Pressure of keg must be balanced by line length for "correct" pour.
If you just have a faucet on the keg output, that's Zero line length and yes, you would want to release some of the 10-15PSI before opening it. If, however, you have 10' of 3/16" line and a picnic tap on the keg output, you're likely okay to pour with 10-12PSI.

When I have several kegs for a party, and for fun I just have the quick disconnect to a faucet so everyone feels like they're bartending their own pours, I turn my input CO2 pressure to about 2(two)PSI. When I have 10' of line and a picnic tap, which is most of the time for me, I keep the kegs at 12-15, depending on temperature

 

[whovous]

My line is roughly 5' long. Temp is 43F and pressure is just under 15psi. I bought a 12' line at the same time I bought everything else, but I've not felt the need to use it. Of course, given how little I know about kegging, that does not mean a lot.

 

[balrog]

I use this calc for balancing.

 

[whovous]

I use this calc for balancing.

Hmm, it says nearly 12'. I recall using another calculator (Can I tell you which one? No.) that led me to think 5' was just fine. I think I recall it added temp as a variable as well.

No matter. I am going to add the longer line to the mix and see what happens.

 

[whovous]

OK, so maybe I am not going to add the 12' line to the mix. I got home tonight and was absolutely unable to remove the gas line from the carbing cap. I figured I would at least at the 3/16' ID 12' line, but it had a quite different OD which made it inflexible as all get out. I tried exposing it to some very hot water, but could not the picnic tap into it. There was a whole 'nother problem at the other end of the 12' line, but I never got that far.

The good news is that the keg is getting very light, and it has to kick soon. Both of the pints I poured tonight had very good carb levels and head retention. I will do my part to make sure it kicks soon!

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I had to look up "carbing lid" to see what all the fuss was about. The one I saw pictured only had a gas inlet and a PRV. No liquid port at all. Seems one could create the same function on standard lids by replacing the gas tube with some PVC tubing and an aeration stone. No?

 

[william_shakes_beer]

OK, so maybe I am not going to add the 12' line to the mix. I got home tonight and was absolutely unable to remove the gas line from the carbing cap. I figured I would at least at the 3/16' ID 12' line, but it had a quite different OD which made it inflexible as all get out. I tried exposing it to some very hot water, but could not the picnic tap into it. There was a whole 'nother problem at the other end of the 12' line, but I never got that far.

The good news is that the keg is getting very light, and it has to kick soon. Both of the pints I poured tonight had very good carb levels and head retention. I will do my part to make sure it kicks soon!

when I was assembling my kegging setup, I made the mistake of first purchasing 1/4" vinyl bev tubing and barbs. Had pour problems and ultimately replaced the vinyl bev line with 3/16, but kept the 1/4" barbs. A cup of hot water softens the vinyl enough to slip it onto a hose barb. Unfortunately, it also makes it impossible to remove, as you have discovered. I ended up cutting the vinyl a hair beyond the barb, then caaaarefully slitting the remaining ring with a razor blade. If you plan to do this swap regularly, get a QD to keep the line from shrinking.

 

[balrog]

I had to look up "carbing lid" to see what all the fuss was about. The one I saw pictured only had a gas inlet and a PRV. No liquid port at all. Seems one could create the same function on standard lids by replacing the gas tube with some PVC tubing and an aeration stone. No?

I guess I would not, as I would want the option to use the input via diffusion stone, then switch to input via regular port; again, to be able to have CO2 come into the keg as it was emptied without being input from the bottom in a very agitatiousexpyisticfragicalirupus method.

 

[Blazinlow86]

My first guess is the ops beer may just be undercarbed and his tap setup could be having the typical foamy first pour. First pour comes out looking ok because it's foamy but undercarbed. Next pour is not foamy as his tap/lines are cool now or whatever but because it's undercarbed it's flat? Cheers